Myths
Being sad is the same as being depressed.
True or False
False
Fact: Depression is a mental health condition that causes individuals to experience extreme sadness, trouble sleeping, loss of energy, difficulty thinking and more.
How many minutes of exercise does it take to boost your mood and improve your health?
30 minutes
Just 30 minutes of walking every day can boost your mood and improve your health. Small amounts of exercise add up, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t do 30 minutes at one time.
Many people use this technique by simply finding a quiet place, closing their eyes, and focusing on their breathing or other soothing elements.
Meditation
Meditation can help you experience thoughts and emotions with greater balance and acceptance.
______ and alcohol are considered ineffective self medicating ways to cope with difficult feelings.
Drugs and Alcohol
You might feel like using drugs or alcohol to cope with any difficult feelings. But in the long run they can make you feel worse.
Children don’t experience mental health issues.
True or False
False
Mental health disorders show first signs before a person turns 14-years-old.
A balanced ______ and plenty of water can improve your energy and focus throughout the day.
Diet
A balanced diet and plenty of water can improve your energy and focus throughout the day.
Yoga
Yoga is a practice that connects the body, breath, and mind. It uses physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to improve overall health.
It is important to avoid bright ______ before bed that can affect your sleep.
Screens/devices
Try to give yourself some tech-free time before sleep, and avoid bright screens that can affect your sleep. Instead of looking at a screen you could try listening to some music or a podcast.
Mental Illness are real with biological, genetic and environmental factors.
True or False
True
Self care looks the same for everyone.
True or False
False
Self-care looks different for everyone, and it is important to find what you need and enjoy. It may take trial and error to discover what works best for you.
Mindfulness helps us improve our focus and concentration by increasing our ______ awareness.
Self-awareness
Mindfulness helps us improve our focus and concentration by increasing our self-awareness. T
Taking a break from _______ media is important to mental health
Social Media
Mental health conditions are more common than cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.
True or False
True
Mental health includes _________, psychological and social well-being.
Emotional
Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
Writing about your thoughts and feelings
Journaling
Journaling has been linked to mental health benefits like lower stress, reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, and faster recovery after a traumatic experience.
Close connections that are important to your well-being
Relationships/Friendships/Family
To assess your social self-care, consider:
Mental health issues are a result of personality weakness or character flaws, and people can "snap out of it" if they try hard enough.
True or False
False
Mental health conditions have nothing to do with being lazy or weak and many people need help to get better. Many factors contribute to mental health conditions, including:
People with mental health conditions can get better and many seek support.
Don't forget to attend to your basic ________ like eating, sleeping, etc.
Basic
Are you taking care of your basic needs? Are you taking time to eat? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you drinking enough water? Are you moving your body during the day? These are all things that provide us with fuel to move through our days.
An area that has trees, birds, clouds etc. that can lower stress and increase relaxation
Nature
Spending time in nature doesn’t just make you feel better in the moment; it may also offer ongoing health benefits.
Some additional benefits of being in nature can include the following:
Improved breathing and respiratory system function
Lower emotional distress
Increased relaxation
Feelings of awe that can boost mood
I should seek help when I experience severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted at least ______ weeks or more?
2 weeks or more
Seek professional help if you are experiencing severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted 2 weeks or more such as: